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A SPRING break trip to Denmark has turned into a vacation nightmare for two college students.
The pair – Owen Ray and his friend – were arrested at an airport after an unfortunate mixup landed them behind bars for 23 hours a day.
The students had plans to visit friends abroad during their spring break but it was cut short after an Uber ride turned into a prison stay, as reported by CBS News.
After they got into an Uber, the students realized they entered the wrong address and asked to exit the vehicle.
Ray’s mother said she received a shocking text from an unknown number that clued her into her child’s series of unfortunate events.
“When they got in the Uber, they realized the wrong address had been put in,” Sara Buchen-Ray told CBS News.
“Approximately five minutes later, the Uber driver circled back around and found them walking and started yelling at them,” she said.
Despite the students’ pleas, the driver said Ray and his friend had not paid for the ride.
“The Uber driver first says, ‘I’m going to call the police,’ and you can hear them saying, ‘We’ve done nothing wrong. Call the police,'” Ray’s mother said.
Receipts confirm that the Uber ride had been paid for.
The mother was on her way to pick up Ray from O’Hare International Airport when she received a brutal text from her son.
“Approximately 6 a.m. in the morning, I got a text from a foreign number saying, ‘Mom, I’m in prison in Copenhagen,'” Buchen-Ray said.
Ray checked into an Airbnb in Copenhagen while she attempted to free her son from the Danish prison he was being held at.
“While they were waiting at the gates to board their planes to go home, they were arrested by the Danish police,” said Buchen-Ray’s attorney in Chicago, Jordan Finfer.
The attorney confirmed that Ray was arrested at the airport, although no charges were pressed against him.
Ray was only detained because authorities had identified him as a “flight risk,” as reported by CBS News.
Uber’s new features
Uber has introduced several new features ahead of the busy holiday season. They include:
- UberXXL – vehicles with larger trunk space that the company insists are perfect for trips to the airport
- UberX Share at airports – so you can pay a lower fare en route to your destination
- New Uber Reserve features – to let rideshare customers schedule airport rides in advance
- Updates to the Uber Shuttle at LaGuardia Airport – which allows people to grab a shared ride from Manhattan to the airport
- Home Screen Widget for iPhone – to request a ride right from your phone’s home screen
“They are in prison where they’re locked up 23 hours a day,” Buchen-Ray said last week.
During the two weeks he was behind bars, Ray was allowed to speak with his mother twice via telephone.
The family is currently waiting for a trial that is scheduled to take place this month, barring any complications.
The two college students were released from the Copenhagen prison on Monday.
Both St. Ignatius College Prep alumni were required to give up their passports and stay in Denmark for the time being.
“There are going to be ramifications from this. You know, when you’re locked in a jail cell for 23 hours a day, you can’t come out without nothing,” Buchen-Ray said.
